Zekhethelo: Love redefined.

chapter 3: the perfect stranger

"Okay boMama, I would like us to dice the beetroot and not grate it, we will use chutney and sweetchillie instead of vinegar, the potatoes will be fried into wedges instead of the usual potato salad, the cabbage and carrots will be for a coslaw using the mayonnaise that would've been used for the potato salad, chicken will be grilled or fried and the beef will be stewed, dumplings should be boiled on muffin trays and the samp will be handled by me as well as the beef stew" that was a mouthful but I'm grateful that besides maMbhele, these women are all not in my business.

We are cooking outside in gas stoves, I get started with boiling the samp, I am not sure where the beef is but if we want it to be tender enough by tomorrow morning then we should start cooking it now on low heat.

It's 8 o'clock now and everyone is well on their work, I am chopping onions for the beef, someone clears their throat behind me, this sounds a bit too familiar, I turn and its the guy from earlier, he's not as clear as he looked earlier on, he even smells of smoke. "Nkosazane, this is the first batch of the meat that we've cleaned, I was told to bring it to the lady incharge" , "thank you, you can place it right there" he has this grin on his face, I choose to ignore it then continue with what I am busy with.

My sister calls, "Za..." I answer, she's in a very noisy place "bro, I'm at Cubana, can I uber for you? It's sooo lit here!" I chuckle, is she serious "oh shoot, I'm so sorry Zee, I..." I chuckle,  "it's okay sis, enjoy." We hang up.

It's 23h40 and at this point the meat is simmering on the stove, the samp is coming along fine and I'm just sitting next to the gas stoves, it's a bit windy so I'm trying to keep warm.

As i am busy scrolling through my phone someone places a coffee mug on the table I am sitting by, I look up and again it's the guy in the overall, "I thought you could do with something warm" , "thanks." I respond, hoping that he would leave, "I didn't poison you, the coffee is safe to drink" I look up " I don't drink coffee, but thanks" he pulls a chair and sits next to me, "oh well, I'll have it then" I just ignore him and continue with what I'm occupying myself with.

I stand to stir the meat, then sit back at my seat, he then extends his hand "I'm Mthokozisi", I look at him, what is this man trying to do. "Okay..." that's all I say then focus on my phone. He looks at me in disbelief for a moment then stands and walks off.

It's finally 5 am and all the food is ready, I've spoken to sis'Thandi and told her that I just need to go home to freshen up before coming back to add final touches, the service goes to the cemetery at 8 so by 8h30 people will surely be back therefore we'll have to dish up for them.

I get home and take an hour nap, I'm up at 6 feeling like I've been run down by a bus, I take a bath then change into my black chanel bodycon dress, paired with black stockings and black Gucci slides. These are the only things that are a reminder of my past life, the expensive clothes.

I wear my mother's black head scarf and I look great hey! I go back kwaMahlangu while everyone at home is still asleep, we add the final touches to everything and before we know it it's time to set up as the family has just went to the cemetery.

We set up warmers, and these ladies just listen to my instructions. I appreciate this. We are ready for the people. When they arrive I am on the most difficult dishing up duty, the meat. The queue is so long but luckily there's enough food for everyone. "Hi" oh gosh, not him again, it's the guy from last night, but today he's looking really fine, dressed in a check navy suit, a white shirt, Versace la Medusa shoes and shades, he looks...monied.

"Hi.." he smiles when I respond,"so..." oh God what now! I look at him "angizange ngilithole igama lakho Ntokazi" gosh! Not here, not now "you're holding the queue you know", "I know, ngizosuka mhla ngathola igama lakho" what is this guy really playing at? I just look away, the other ladies who are helping with dishing up are looking at me and practically drooling over him, I look back at him and he has that grin on his face again, at this point the people in the queue are already complaining. "Zekhethelo... now please move" he smiles, "Khethelo ngempela..." then he walks off.

After a long tiring morning, I say my goodbyes to the women I was working with then go home, my mother sent me a message earlier saying that her and the kids went to her society meeting they'll be back later. Perks of being a driving gogo, she gets to drive around with her grandkids whenever.

I get home, take a bath then went straight to lala land. I woke up at 3pm and the house is still empty so I decide to cook, even in my exhausted state, I will still cook. I make spaghetti and mince then watch some reality TV, since I'm all alone I decide to reactivate my social media accounts, and wow people are still living it up, my former "friends" still have it all together. It must be nice.

It hurts, as it should, seeing all the people I was living it up with, still having the luxury to wake up in 5 star hotels and drive fancy cars while I'm down and out, but I am most willing right now to get my life together, I enjoyed cooking so much last night, I can definitely tell that cooking is one of my favourite passions...